AVEVA commits to restrict global warming to 1.5°C

AVEVA announced that it has committed to setting 1.5°C-aligned emission reduction targets across all three Scopes as part of joining the Business Ambition for 1.5°C campaign. The announcement was made at a meeting with Kwasi Kwarteng, the UK Secretary of State for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy, at AVEVA’s London headquarters. The decision demonstrates AVEVA’s commitment to set both short and long-term targets that are consistent with the Paris Climate Agreement’s most ambitious goals and represent a science-based approach to climate action.

“As outlined by the global scientific community in last week’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, the window we have to take action on climate is closing fast,” said Peter Herweck, AVEVA CEO, at the meeting. 

Further said, “We have joined Business Ambition for 1.5°C because we are deeply committed to being part of the solution to the climate crisis, both through the industrial software that we make to support our customers on their digital journey and in the daily actions that we take to run our own business.

 By working together with our customers, partners, and other key stakeholders such as the UK Government, we believe we can create an inclusive net-zero economy in line with the 1.5°C pathway.”

Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng commented, “It’s great to see companies like AVEVA committing to tackling climate change and joining the Race to Zero and the Business Ambition 1.5°C campaign. As a country, eliminating our contribution to climate change by 2050 simply will not be possible without business playing its part and I urge other companies to follow suit and sign up without delay.  

“Advanced technologies have a major role to play in cutting emissions while at the same time boosting investment and creating new green jobs. It was fantastic to see first-hand how AVEVA is supporting its many customers across the world to transition to a clean, green way of doing business and to seize the myriad opportunities that this brings.” Secretary of State Kwarteng said.

The Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), in collaboration with the UN Global Compact and the We Mean Business coalition, is leading a global alliance called Business Ambition for 1.5°C. It aspires to restrict global temperature increases to 1.5°C over pre-industrial levels in order to avert the worst effects of climate change and irreparable damage to our societies, economies, and natural environment. To achieve that target, greenhouse gas emissions must be cut in half by 2030 and zero by 2050 globally. So far, almost 600 organisations with a market capitalization of more than $13 trillion have joined the Business Ambition for 1.5°C campaign. It is well-known as the gold stand for corporate climate action.

“Achieving the targets will not be easy,” added Herweck. “However, we are confident that through a smart combination of implementing energy reduction measures across our offices, procuring renewable energy, and engaging with our suppliers and customers on climate action, we can greatly reduce our overall emissions with minimal reliance on carbon removals. The majority of our UK facilities, including London, Cambridge, Chesterfield and Manchester, are running on clean power and we are actively working to increase our renewable energy sourcing globally.” In the US, AVEVA’s California facilities, in Lake Forest, San Leandro and Carlsbad, have already switched to a green tariff.

AVEVA’s software solutions enable numerous companies around the world to decarbonise and expedite the transition to a net-zero emissions economy, in addition to making improvements to accelerate the company’s own use of renewable energy. AVEVA technologies assist more sustainable industries by enabling energy savings, emissions monitoring and mitigation, materials efficiency, waste reduction, and supply chain optimization.

AVEVA already participates in a variety of corporate sustainability programmes, such as BSR, the UN Global Compact, and the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance, which bring together corporations to help address climate concerns collectively (REBA). AVEVA is glad to join the UNFCCC Race to Zero by signing on to the Business Ambition for 1.5°C pledge.

This additional climate pledge is in line with AVEVA’s goal of demonstrating that a 1.5°C-compliant business model is feasible ahead of COP26 in November when governments and businesses will bolster their contributions to the Paris Agreement and global warming mitigation. It also represents AVEVA’s collaborative culture and dedication to collaborating with stakeholders across the value chain to help protect the environment for future generations while promoting future net-zero sectors.